Open AccessPlatelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐β‐positive telocytes in skeletal muscle interstitium
Author(s) -
Suciu Laura C.,
Popescu Bogdan O.,
Kostin Sawa,
Popescu Laurentiu M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01505.x
Subject(s) - mural cell , basal lamina , biology , pericyte , pathology , cd31 , angiogenesis , platelet derived growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , population , platelet derived growth factor receptor , growth factor , vascular smooth muscle , anatomy , endothelial stem cell , receptor , in vitro , endocrinology , ultrastructure , medicine , cancer research , biochemistry , environmental health , smooth muscle
Telocytes ( TC s) represent a new cell type recently described in mammalian skeletal muscle interstitium as well as in other organs. These have a specific morphology and phenotype, both in situ and in vitro . Telocytes are cells with long and slender cell prolongations, in contact with other interstitial cells, nerve fibres, blood capillaries and resident stem cells in niches. Our aim was to investigate the potential contribution of TC s to micro‐vascular networks by immunofluorescent labelling of specific angiogenic growth factors and receptors. We found that in human skeletal muscle TC s were constantly located around intermediate and small blood vessels and endomysial capillaries. Epi‐fluorescence and laser confocal microscopy showed that TC s express c‐kit, platelet‐derived growth factor receptor ( PDGFR )‐β and VEGF , both in situ and in vitro . Telocytes were constantly located in the perivascular or pericapillary space, as confirmed by double staining of c‐kit/ CD 31, PDGFR ‐β/ CD 31 and PDGFR ‐β/α‐ smooth muscle actin , respectively. Electron microscopy ( EM ) differentiated between pericytes and other cell types. Laminin labelling showed that TC s are not enclosed or surrounded by a basal lamina in contrast to mural cells. In conclusion, a) PDGFR ‐β could be used as a marker for TC s and b) TC s are presumably a transitional population in the complex process of mural cell recruitment during angiogenesis and vascular remodelling.